MY GJELI-AMOUR

In Status Magazine's latest issue [cover boy the late DJ AM], my take on Gjelina was summed up in the left-hand corner of the glossy glossy. With Singapore and Tokyo also making appearances on the Stausphere page, it's nice to see Venice sitting below the the big-city heavy hitters. Enjoy, my gjeli-amours! Xo

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Gjelina, One More Time

I definitely checked out of the blogosphere this past week... With parents visiting, my boyfriend in town and my college graduation it gets pretty hectic - the fun type of hectic though :) Right now I have lots of new, fun content to post from this past week as I've been dining out with family, lovers and friends. Keep checking in as I am now school-free, I've officially entered what they call the "real world."

One of the pre-graduation dinners took place at Gjelina in Venice, I've blogged about it before (here) if you want to read a little more about my favorite restaurant gem. I mentioned last time that I got told off for taking pictures of the dishes, so I tried to be very very careful this time watching who was around when the flashes went off. Paranoid much? Yes.

I had dinner with my family, Jon and Shannon. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the food, the portions were perfect for sharing leaving room for everyone to try everything. I ordered a few of the same things as last time with some new additions as well. The seasonal menu driven by what's fresh from the market opens up room for trying different plates on each visit. Take a look at our delicious selections...

Artisan Cheeses w/ Marinated Olives, Honeycomb, Membrillo & Toasts

Roasted Beet w/ Burrata, Speck & Toasted Walnut

Garlicky Grilled Baby Broccoli w/ Chilis

Braised Baby Artichokes w/ Parsley, Garlic & Breadcrumbs

Heirloom Spinach w/ Olive, Pinenuts, Cherry Tomato, Feta & Crouton

Mushroom, Goat Cheese & Truffle Oil

Margherita w/ Buffalo Mozzarella

Braised Beef Short Rib w/ Red Wine, Roasted Root Vegetables & Horseradish

Crispy Niman Ranch Pork Belly w/ Apple Cider & Greens

Gjelina

Pronounced with the silent "G", Gjelina is my new favorite restaurant gem. I've only been twice and it has become a favorite of mine already, meaning many more visits to come. The vibe is very Venice chic; not the trendy LA crowd but more arsty and creative Abbot Kinney types. Or, just the people who enjoy downright fresh farmer's market ingredients that transform into rustic Mediterranean cuisine on your plate! I wish I would have taken more pictures from both times I went. The first time I visited, I didn't take any and just enjoyed the food. A few nights ago I went with a group of 6 (translation: the more people, the more food to order) and I knew I had to shoot the plates. In the middle of a flash, an employee came over and told me, "No pictures allowed of the food or of the restaurant." He probably thought I was checking out my competition or something... I should have told him the images were for my new food blog, oh well. We ordered well over 15 dishes, but I put my camera away after the friendly warning.

We started off with a cheese and charcuterie plate and then followed that with salads, small plates, pizzas and a few bigger entree dishes. I think the menu changes seasonally depending on the available ingredients. I can't decide which I like better; the slow braised pork belly (everyone has to try this!) or the truffle thin-crust pizza (everyone has to try this too). A close second is the caramelized onion pizza. Also, for dessert the blackberry crisp is delish for those who like berry and crumble combinations BUT there is also a flourless chocolate tart for chocoholics - I suggest you get both. We did :)

Arugula w/ Blood Orange

Sardine Escabeche

Heirloom Spinach w/ Pinenuts

Charcuterie

Fromage

Caramelized Onion

Braised Pork Belly

Brussels Sprouts w/ Dates + Bacon

A little tip - Dialing in for reservations is recommended, and I would even suggest a few days in advance.